Courts recognize several ways to accomplish valid service. Which ones you can use depends on the document type, the court, and the recipient’s behavior.

Personal service is the gold standard. The server hands the papers directly to the person. If they refuse to take them, leaving the papers in their presence still counts as service, no signature needed. Many courts require personal service for initial court filings.

Substituted service comes into play after reasonable attempts at personal service have failed. Courts usually expect multiple tries on different days and times. The papers are left with a responsible adult at the person’s home or workplace. The server records who received the documents, explains what they are, and documents everything for the proof of service. A statement showing you made a real effort is often filed to support this method.

Service by certified mail is allowed in certain case types or under specific rules. You send the papers by certified or priority mail with tracking to the person’s home or business. Some courts need the named party’s signature; others accept any adult signature at that address. Service is complete when someone signs for it or after a set number of days. Keep the signed card or electronic confirmation and attach it to your proof of service.

Service by publication is a last resort that requires a court order after you’ve tried everything else. You have to show the court you searched for the person, sent letters, checked workplaces, and reached out to people who might know them. The notice then runs in an approved newspaper for the time period the rule requires, and you file proof of publication.

Acceptance of service happens when the recipient agrees to receive the papers and signs an acknowledgment. This doesn’t mean they’re admitting anything,it just confirms they got the documents and starts the clock for their response. Courts often have a specific form for this.

Alternative service by court order is available when traditional methods won’t work. Courts may let you serve papers by email, social media, text, or through a building manager if you can show you’ve tried other ways and explain why the new method is reasonably likely to reach the person.